Shirley Sara Traugot

Shirley Sara Traugot, affectionately known as Sara to her friends and family, passed away peacefully on August 20, 2025, in Carmel, NY. Born on February 8, 1930, in New York City to Joseph and Anna (Polanka) Salant, Sara's life was a rich tapestry of love, creativity and joy.

After graduating from high school, Sara went on to have a successful career at Bell Telephone, later renamed Verizon/AT&T, working her way up to the position as an Executive Commercial Artist in New York City. Commuting into the city from Mahopac every day, she was a dedicated and gifted employee, and rightfully proud of her career progression.

Sara was proud of her origins, and had wonderful stories of her close knit extended Jewish family growing up in Brighton Beach. Her whole life, she was a bundle of energy and fun, always ready with a warm smile and conversation for everyone she met. She was a wonderful dancer, particularly when jitterbugging with her brother Ruben. Taking up tennis in her retirement, she was a force to be reckoned with.

Family was deeply important to Sara. She was a beloved stepmother to Elaine, Kenny, Julian, and Marsha and a devoted sister to Blanche. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Jimmy Traugot, her parents, Joseph and Anna Salant, and her siblings, Robert, Gerry, and Ruben Salant. Sara was also a loving aunt to Antony, Anny, Olivier, Renee, Camille and Robin.

An avid painter, Sara's passion for art was a cornerstone of her life. She progressed from being a talented teenaged artist, studying at the Art Students League, to her later incarnation as an abstract expressionist. Sara's artwork conveyed her intense personality, with her canvases reflecting her vibrancy.

Sara loved her house on a mountain and the woods surrounding it. She loved to watch the birds in her morning room, over coffee, and the deer in the evening. Her creative spirit and sense of wonder was a joy and inspiration to all who knew her.

Sara's love for animals was equally profound, especially for her canine and feline companions. Her dear friend Kathy, who was also her vet, gave her many wonderful companions, her most recent being her adored feline Rex whose passing, just a day before her own, marks a poignant close to their shared journey.

Sara's social nature meant that she was happiest surrounded by friends and family. Her presence was a gift to those around her, and her absence will be deeply felt.

Sara Traugot's legacy will live on in the hearts of those who loved her and in the beauty she brought into the world through her art and her unwavering spirit. She will be dearly missed, but her smile, her warmth, and her creativity will never be forgotten.

Family and friends are welcome to gather at 10:30 a.m. prior to a graveside service at Mount Hebron Cemetery office, 130-04 Horace Harding Expressway, Kew Gardens Hills, NY.

A Graveside service to honor Shirley Sara Traugot's life will take place 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 22, 2025 at Mount Hebron Cemetery.

Donations, in lieu of flowers, can be made in memory of Shirley Sara Traugot to SPCA Westchester https://spcawestchester.org/

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Cargain Funeral Homes, Inc., 418 Route 6, Mahopac, NY10541, 845-628-5655, www.cargainfuneralhomes.com.

We at Cargain Funeral Homes, Inc. are deeply committed to responsibly responding to the health, well-being, and needs of the families, guests, and communities we are privileged to serve.